The Power of a Chlid

The speech in the video above is inspirational. This girl, Severn Suzuki, is only 13 years old at the time the speech was given at the Rio Earth Summit in 1993. She astounded every listener at the conference and has astounded every Youtube viewer since. Despite the video’s 100,000’s of viewings, her voice is largely unheard by those addressed. Our planet still has the same problems it had 15 years ago, and they have largely gotten worse with the passage of time. However to those not addressed–the dreamers, children, students, people largely of a younger generation–her voice serves as inspiration.

Reread the first post of this blog and you see that the Plant the Seed Network’s mission is to create an online network/movement of students dedicated to peace through transcending traditional cultural barriers that are now causing conflict as they meet, mix and intertwine. This girl’s speech embodies the desires of the Plant the Seed Network: the older generation, although with certain triumphs during its day, has largely unfulfilled its goals and commitments as leaders and we, the younger generation, are now left with the large responsibility of human survival. The Plant the Seed Network is a group of students from around the world committed to taking steps toward global cooperation and creating a harmony among the Earth’s citizens that allows us to take strides as a whole toward the solutions we need to survive.

The Tunisian Nobel Prize: Dialogue as a Political Virtue

Refugees and Responsibility

Understanding the Nuclear Challenge and Three Other Security Threats

New Type of Confrontation and the 25th Anniversary of the Moscow Global Forum

Akio is a motivation, a movement and an inspiration on the globe. He is bridging the gap between generations, religion, politics and nations. He is a true global citizen and a peacemaker, a man of dedication.

Lubna Malik, International Schools Coordinator (Lahore, Pakistan)

“I have a powerful position of the UN, a staff of 4,000 and a huge office, but Akio does not have any of this. However he can bring President Gorbachev and Mother Teresa together at a meeting, which I cannot do.”

Bradford Morse, Administrator of the UNDP, former U.S. Congressman

“Akio is the most completely selfless, dedicated person I have ever known. Failure is a word he does not know. It is only for him a challenge to move forward again.”

John Whitehead, former co-chair of Goldman Sachs, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State.

“Akio Matsumura was one of the first global citizens I met many years back in a forum in Moscow. His genuine concern and compassion for all people inspired me to see my own connection to the rest of humanity. Evolution will move forward for the better because of people like him.”

Jim Paredes, celebrated Philippino musician

“Akio Matsumura is in the truest sense of the phrase “a citizen of the world”. He has no ideological agenda beyond the betterment of the human condition. A remarkable and admirable person.”

Ambassador Stephen Bosworth, Dean of the Fletcher School at Tufts University

“Akio’s modesty is key to his achievements. He does not try to control the outcome of his conferences: the delegates are genuinely free to discuss what they want, and how. This openness is, I believe, the key to his success.”

Anuradha Vittachi, Co-founder of the OneWorld Network and OneClimate

“He has the spirit of a saint, the skill of a mediator, the mind of one inspired by an awesome Creator, and Cosmic friend, and the imaginative courage of a genuine, one of a kind, historic initiator. His sense of urgency is grounded in the dramatic and traumatic struggle of our time which is as much spiritual as it is political.”

Glenn Olds, former U.S. ambassador to the UN, former president of Kent State

“A spiritual beginning must be the basis of any initiative. Akio has always faithfully acted upon this conviction. His devotion to it has made it possible for him not only to overcome numerous obstacles and problems but also help others.”

Mikhail Gorbachev, former president, USSR

Akio and President Gorbachev

Senator Claiborne Pell and Akio

Akio and His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Dr. Thor Heyerdhal and his wife at Akio's

Akio and Chairman Arafat

Finding the Missing Link is a project by Akio Matsumura to connect people, information, and ideas to provide effective and innovative solutions to new types of international problems. Read more.